Course Outline
Level
For beginners up for a challenge No specific skills required, but any programming skills would be put to good use.
Suitable For
Adults and Teenagers
Description
Build a remote controlled robot powered by a Raspberry Pi computer and the Python programming language.
Detail
Anatomy of a Robot
You will examine a robot like the one you will build to understand the component parts.
Working with the Raspberry Pi
This small, cheap computer will be the brains of the robot. We you turn it on and explore its possibilities.
Working with Controller Boards
You will learn how to connect the controller board and use Python code to control motors and various inputs and outputs.
Design and Construction
You will look at the mechanics and design and build the robot body.
*For courses at Think Create Learn, Ealing only: The robot will be cut from plywood to your design specification or you can select from a range of standard bodies.
Students wishing to visit the workshop and get involved in the woodwork and soldering are welcome.*
Electronics
You will learn what components to use and how to add them to your robot.
Remote controls
You will learn how to connect a remote control and write more Python code to detect its commands.
Coding
You will use Python to code the robot to respond to commands, including moving forward, backwards, turning, spinning and stopping. Students will be encouraged to use a computational problem-solving approach.
Tweaking, testing and optimisation
You will make adjustments and test the robot. Students working at a faster pace can add additional robot actions and enhancements such as sensors and other motors.
Competition time!
Finally, pit your remote driving skills against other students and their robots (and Floella, the house robot!).
Duration
10 hours (usually over 2 days)
Price
Prices depend on location.
See individual dates for details.
Prices are for tuition only.
If you want to take your robot/computer away with you, components will be charged at cost price and will usually be in the region of £75-£85 per robot.
Skills you will pick up in the course
Key skill categories
- Robotics
- Python programming
- Electronics
- Engineering
- Problem solving
On successful completion of this course, students will be able to
- Build a remote controlled robot with a Raspberry Pi.
- Describe the physical design principles for a wheeled robot.
- Breakdown complex computational problems into manageable tasks.
- Write Python code to implement robotic behaviours.
Dates
Note that the course content may vary slightly from location to location. Please check the external link the exact course content.